Residential Tenant Resources During COVID-19

November 24, 2020

To those who are working from home as we are, please be safe and keep the world turning. To those who have lost your jobs or have less income than before the shutdown, we offer some help and thoughts.

One of the hardest parts of this whole crisis is the uncertainty that affects all of us. How long will this last?  When can I go back to work?  Will my job still be there when this is over?  These are all legitimate questions that we all want answers to. We're all in this together. It is too early to have the answers we want, but; I believe that we live in a society that has weathered a serious crisis before. — We can handle this one too.

To protect the safety of our tenants, in-person tours will not be allowed for any occupied units that are currently being marketed.

In-person tours are limited to one person present. Other accommodations may be made, please confirm with the listing agent prior to the appointment.
Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

State expands who’s eligible for $1.1 million still left in Thurston’s rent assistance fund

Updated November 24, 2020

Source: The Olympian

Thurston County was allotted $3.1 million under the program in August, and $2 million has been spent already, serving 911 Thurston renter households as of Monday.

The state Department of Commerce, which created the program using federal CARES Act funds, authorized counties to expand eligibility in November.

To apply, contact the Community Action Council by calling 360-438-1100, then press 8 for Housing and 7 for ERAP.

For more info on this story, visit The Olympian.

EVICTION RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP)

Updated Octocber 15, 2020

The Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) is intended to prevent evictions by paying past due, current, due and future rent, targeting limited resources to those with the greatest needs while working to distribute the funds equitably.

The goals of the program are:

  • Prevent evictions
  • Target limited resources to people most likely to become homeless after eviction
  • Target limited resources to people most likely to suffer severe health consequences as a result of the eviction
  • Promote equity in who is served, with a focus on equity for groups of people who historically have not been provided equitable access to rent assistance and those who have disproportionately been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak: Latinx or Hispanic, young adults, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

Eligibility:

Households must meet two initial screening criteria:

  • Current Income (over last 60 days) at or below 50% of Area Median Income
  • At least one month of rent not paid or partially unpaid since March 1, 2020

Households must also meet at least one of the following additional criteria (any member of the household):

  • 50% or more of current monthly income is needed to pay rent
  • Previously homeless within last five years (this includes experiences of couch surfing/double up)
  • Eviction history within last seven years
  • Housing disrupted due to household member race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion
  • At risk of severe illness (62 or older, underlying condition)
  • Disability of any household member. (Includes a physical, developmental, mental, or emotional impairment, including impairment caused by alcohol or drug abuse, PTSD, brain injury, HIV/AIDS)

If head of household is 18 – 24 years old, additional criteria can be used to determine eligibility:

  • Pregnant or parenting
  • Recipient (current or past) from any one of the following: foster care, adoption, mental health, drug or alcohol treatment, court systems

United States citizenship is NOT an eligibility requirement of this program.

Documentation Questions for each Household:

  • Number of people in the household
  • Income from the last 60 days
  • Address
  • Rent amount / lease agreement
  • Amount of rent owed (past, current, or future)
  • Information pertaining to screen criteria (above)
  • Landlord or Friend/Family Payment Agreement Form
  • Landlord signature on HIE Form
  • W9 from landlord or friend/family

Partner Organizations: 

  • Community Youth Services
  • More to come soon!

Contact information:
Call: (360) 438-1100  Press 8 for Housing / Press 7 for ERAP

If you have questions, please be in contact with your property manager. We may not have all the answers, but we will tell you what we can.

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.